Live entertainment, food and activity booths, special events for children, a patriotic program, a river parade and a fireworks exhibition will come together during the 27^th annual San Marcos Summerfest, a community-wide Independence Day celebration, set for July 4 at Sewell Park on the Texas State University-San Marcos campus.

The annual festival capitalizes on the park’s scenic San Marcos River setting. Admission to all events is absolutely free! Summerfest is a community-wide partnership between the City of San Marcos, Texas State University-San Marcos and a host of other corporations, organizations and individual volunteers.  Among the larger corporate and organizational sponsors signed up to date are the Noon Lions Club, H-E-B, American GI Forum and McCoy’s Building Supply Center.

July 4^th in San Marcos kicks off with the American GI Forum’s annual Firecracker Golf Classic, played on the Texas State University golf course.  Tee-off for the four-person scramble is 8 a.m.  Proceeds benefit the GI Forum’s scholarship program.  For more information on the tournament, contact Jesse Sanchez at 665-0881 or Steve Bazan at (512) 245-3978.

Food and activity booths will open at 11 a.m. A variety of food and other items will be available from on-site vendors and there will be continuous live musical entertainment throughout the afternoon and evening. A children’s parade and patriotic costume contest and a patriotic program will are highlights on the Summerfest schedule. 

The musical line up to date for Summerfest offers a variety of music styles, beginning with Mariachi Suroeste at 1 p.m., followed by Turbo 350 at 2 p.m., the Crabby Grass Boys at 3 p.m., David Ybarra and the LA Blues Band at 5:15 p.m., Cheryl Murdock at 7:30 p.m. and Trio Faze at 10 p.m. after the fireworks.

The schedule for key activities features the children’s parade and costume contest at 4:30 p.m., the patriotic program at 6:15 p.m., Hays County Crime Stoppers Ducky Derby at 7 p.m., the Lions Club’s Illuminated River Float Parade at 9 p.m. and a fireworks exhibition at 9:30 p.m.  River parade forms may be downloaded from the Summerfest website at SummerfestSanMarcos.com.

Parking for Summerfest will be available at Texas State’s Bobcat Stadium and Coliseum parking lots. The Lions Club’s tube rental at City Park will be open. To encourage Summerfest participants to cool off in the river, lifeguards will be on duty at the park from 4 to 9 p.m.  

Returning for his fourth year as Summerfest General Chairman is Jimmy Johnson of Gateway Business Products.

Summerfest is an alcohol free event.  Coolers are subject to inspection.  For general information on Summerfest, contact the San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department at (512) 393-8400, the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce at (512) 393-5900, or Pat Murdock at (512) 245-3582.